“Hickey & Boggs” (殺人者にラブ・ソングを), Original Japanese Movie Poster 1973, Bill Cosby / Robert Culp, STB Tatekan Two-Sheet Format (c. 51 × 145 cm) — U9
This is an original Japanese STB tatekan theatrical poster for the 1973 Japanese release of Hickey & Boggs, released locally as 殺人者にラブ・ソングを, meaning “A Love Song for a Killer.” Over fifty years old, this complete two-sheet example combines imposing photographic imagery with oversized orange and red typography.
Directed by Robert Culp from a screenplay by Walter Hill, the 1972 American crime thriller reunites Bill Cosby and Robert Culp, previously paired in the television series I Spy. They play financially struggling Los Angeles private detectives whose search for a missing woman draws them into a violent struggle over stolen bank robbery proceeds. The film marked Culp’s feature directorial debut, bringing a bleak, hardboiled atmosphere to its story of damaged lives and criminal intrigue.
Printed on two sheets arranged vertically, the design makes forceful use of the tall tatekan format. The enormous orange English title “HICKEY & BOGGS” rises diagonally across the upper section, accompanied by a black ampersand, a small monochrome portrait inset, and green Japanese cast credits. Below, the two leads stand side by side with revolvers raised, their serious expressions establishing the confrontational tone.
Their full-length figures carry the composition across the central join, with a bullet-riddled car stretching behind them across the sandy setting. A hovering helicopter and smaller scenes of violence add further tension. The massive red Japanese title 「殺人者にラブ・ソングを」 anchors the lower sheet, followed by production credits and the United Artists logo.
The prominent red tagline opens:
「ビッグ・コルトが唸り！ベンツがぶっ飛ぶ！」
“The big Colt roars! A Mercedes goes flying!”
The combination of commanding figures, dramatic action imagery, and contrasting English and Japanese lettering gives this poster a distinctive presence. It is an especially appealing example for collectors of 1970s American crime cinema, Robert Culp, Walter Hill, and Japanese theatrical poster design.
Condition: Excellent+.
Please review all photographs, including the individual sheets and reverse, as they show the exact poster for sale.
STB tatekan format: approximately 51 × 145 cm when assembled.
Stock code: U9.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
About STB (Tatekan) posters
Japanese STB / tatekan posters were tall standing-board advertisements, printed in two pieces to be joined vertically for cinema display. Typically measuring around 51 × 145 cm, their elongated proportions offered considerable scope for distinctive compositions. Designed for temporary theatrical use, complete surviving examples preserve an important part of Japan’s cinema advertising history.
